A baronet clad in the proverbial “shining armour” came to Salford Council this week to exert his family’s old rights and help Salford residents campaigning to block a proposed housing development - and keep their essential Parkland.

Through detective work and with help from the Freedom of Information Act, the residents discovered that the Park was once a farm owned by the ancestors of Sir Peter Heywood, the 6th Baronet of Claremont, sold to the council in 1902 on the condition that it be used only for recreation.

Council officials had claimed that there was little chance of tracking down descendants or relatives of the original landowners; but the 6th Baronet told the Council meeting - 'I'm pleased to say I do exist, and as a baronet I'm not hard to find." He is listed in Who's Who.

Have you got parks under threat of development, or closure? Let us know by emailing [email protected]